California S.B. 1028 - State Financial Aid

03/14/2014

Sponsor: Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D)

Summary: Requires the number of awards made each year through the Cal Grant C program to be at least the same number of awards made for the 2000–01 fiscal year. Requires the amount awarded to be not less than $3,009, and not more than $5,000, per award. Reserves 2,500 awards through the Cal Grant C program for California’s long-term unemployed. Authorizes an award to be expended for a student’s living expenses. Requires the Student Aid Commission, in consultation with specified entities, for purposes of the Cal Grant C program, to prioritize occupational training programs and industry clusters. Requires the Student Aid Commission to consult with the Workforce Services Branch of the Employment Development Department, the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the California Workforce Investment Board and the local workforce investment boards to develop a plan to publicize the grant award program to California’s long-term unemployed and a plan to make students receiving awards aware of job search and placement services available through specified public entities.

Defines “long-term unemployed” to mean a person who has been unemployed for more than twenty-six weeks at the time of submission to the Student Aid Commission of his or her application.

Defines “Industry cluster” to means any of the following: (1) A geographic concentration or emerging concentration of interdependent industries with direct service, supplier and research relationships. (2) Independent industries that share common resources in a given regional economy or labor market. (3) A group of employers closely linked by common products or services, workforce needs, similar technologies and supply chains in a given regional economic or labor market.

Outlook: The committee will accept public testimony during the April 2 hearing. Written testimony should be submitted in advance of the hearing. Generally, measures are acted upon during their public hearing if they are considered by the committee. Action will be taken at the discretion of the chairman.

The Senate Committee on Education is chaired by Senator Carol Liu (D). The sponsor is not a member of the committee of referral. Committees are not required to consider every measure referred to them. Per Joint Rule 61 (b)(6), the committee has by May 9 to act on this measure.

By rule, this measure cannot be heard in committee until March 20, or 30 days have passed since its introduction. The sponsor is a member of the majority party but has not garnered the support of any cosponsors. The Democratic Party controls both legislative chambers as well as the office of Governor.